I ordered some Dahlias from Swan's Dahlias Summer Sale late in June. I was worried it may be too late for my zone 5 garden to wait for them to be shipped and then get them planted and still have time to get blooms.
Here is a timeline for the results.
July 14, 2015
First signs of life
September 02, 2015
First open flower from Dahlia 'Touche'
September 04, 2015
Same flower after a couple days.
September 09, 2015
First flower on Dahlia 'Jitterbug'
Shots of Dahlia 'Touche'
September 15, 2015
I was having a hard time figuring out whether this Dahlia was 'Gabrielle Marie' or 'Touche'. I determined it was 'Touche' because there was only a single bloom on 'Gabrielle Marie' to first open, whose picture follows.
This is Dahlia 'Jitterbug' the same day.
Again was doubting whether this was 'Touche' or 'Gabrielle Marie's first bloom. I determined from the order of the pictures this is the first bloom of Gabrielle Marie partly because Jitterbug is in the middle and I probably did that thinking it would help me remember which was which. Also in the later pictures that I am sure is Gabrielle Marie there is only one flower blooming so it was a single flower that first opened not two like the first picture from September 15th above.
September 19, 2015
I know this is Gabrielle Marie because it is near my English Shrub Rose (Rosa 'Lady of Shalott')
Closer up
Picture from iPhone on September 21, 2015
September 24, 2015
Another one I wasn't immediately sure on whether it's 'Touche' or 'Gabrielle Marie' however
I determined it is Dahlia 'Gabrielle Marie' because I remembered that Touche had been knocked over and when I tried to salvage it by re staking it, it never recovered fully and most of the flowers died immediately.
First bloom on Cactus Dahlia (Dahlia 'Tutti Frutti') is open enough for a decent shot.
October 07, 2015
This is definitely Dahlia 'Gabrielle Marie' I can see 'Lady of Shalott' behind it in the first shot.
Dahlia 'Jitterbug' the same day with some fluffy chicken bottoms in the background.
A few days after trying to salvage the toppled over 'Touche' and seeing most of the flowers didn't survive I cut the last one that looked alive and some from the others for bringing inside.
You can see the size difference of 'Touche' Next to 'Gabrielle Marie' in this shot.
It is the lightest pink down on the lower left side.
October 10, 2015
First bloom finally open enough for a shot on Dahlia 'Brookside Cheri'
Dahlia 'Jitterbug'
Cactus Dahlia (Dahlia 'Tutti Frutti')
Dahlia 'Gabrielle Marie'
October 12, 2015
Cactus Dahlia (Dahlia 'Tutti Frutti')
Dahlia 'Brookside Cheri'
October 15, 2015
Dahlia 'Brookside Cheri'
Cactus Dahlia (Dahlia 'Tutti Frutti')
Dahlia 'Jitterbug'
First frost is forecast and the Dahlias are killed by frost on October 18, 2015.
On October 21, 2015 I cut the Dahlias stalks to allow to form eyes, except Touche because it was in my way of planting Daffodils. I dug it right away. Then the next day Jitterbug was in my way so I pulled it out. I don't think this one is worth saving over. I prefer to keep space for larger more peach colored Dahlias.
I would definitely try and plant Dahlias earlier here if you would like to have more than just a few blooms on them.
Although 'Jitterbug' did bloom quite a bit and 'Touche' probably would have if it hadn't fallen over and been ruined. These two were also in spots that get shaded latest in the day. The shade starts in the back about 4:30 pm where 'Brookside Cheri' was and makes it way towards 'Gabrielle Marie', 'Tutti Fruiti', followed by 'Touche' then 'Jitterbug' by 6:00 pm.
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